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Boy Scouts of America

EIN 44-0545995 · Kansas City, MO

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak35 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

THE HEART OF AMERICA COUNCIL, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA (THE COUNCIL), IS A NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION CHARTERED BY THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, NATIONAL COUNCIL, AS A LOCAL COUNCIL. IT IS THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION TO SERVE OTHERS BY HELPING INSTILL VALUES IN YOUNG PEOPLE AND PREPARE YOUTH MEMBERS TO MAKE ETHICAL CHOICES DURING THEIR LIFETIME AND ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVE NATIONAL CHARTERS TO USE THE SCOUTING PROGRAM AS PART OF THEIR OWN YOUTH WORK IN THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA SERVED BY THE HEART OF AMERICA COUNCIL. OVER 700 CHARTERED ORGANIZATIONS HAVE GOALS COMPATIBLE WITH THOSE OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA AND THOSE ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE RELIGIOUS, EDUCATIONAL, CIVIC, FRATERNAL, BUSINESS AND LABOR GROUPS, GOVERNMENTS, CORPORATIONS, PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATES AND CITIZENS' GROUPS WITHIN THE 19 KANSAS AND MISSOURI COUNTIES IN THE GREATER KANSAS CITY METROPOLITAN AREA SERVED BY THE COUNCIL.

Income
$8.5 million
Spending
$9.7 million
Spent on programs
87%
Reserves
-2.6 months of spending
Largest source of income
fees for its services, 47%
Employees
399
Volunteers
6,800
Highest pay
$349,813, executive

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 35 out of 100.

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 21% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 14% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    87% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 13 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100.

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    71 of 71 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (1)
  1. $8.5 million spent. TRADITIONAL SCOUTING PROGRAM -INCLUDES CUB SCOUTS, A FAMILY AND HOME-CENTERED PROGRAM FOR BOYS AND GIRLS WHO ARE IN KINDERGARTEN TO FIFTH GRADES. SCOUTS BSA PROGRAM, A PROGRAM FOR BOYS AND GIRLS AGE 11 TO 18 DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE BSA OBJECTIVES THROUGH A VIGOROUS OUTDOOR PROGRAM AND PEER GROUP LEADERSHIP WITH ADULT COUNSEL. VENTURING IS A PROGRAM FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN 14 YEARS OF AGE OR 13 YEARS OF AGE AND HAVE COMPLETED THE EIGHT GRADE, BUT ARE NOT YET 18. IT PROVIDES OPTIONS FOR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE LOOKING FOR RUGGED HIGH ADVENTURE OR CHALLENGING ACTIVITIES.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.

    Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since November 1965.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.